In Same Birds, I give singers permission to play around with vowels! The most prominent example of this vowel fun is on the word “same,” as its bluesy, two-syllable melisma begs for a juicy “long a-long e” dipthong. Yes, I know this dipthong is verboten in classical music, but try it anyway! It's the only way to find your inner crow.

This song's off-kilter jazz voicings, angular melodies and punchy entrances contrast with the glorious, full-bodied pronouncement: “We are here.” In these three words lie the deep truth of the song. We ourselves are those birds: quirky and idiosyncratic and annoying and transcendent and totally here.